Try, Edi join breakaway Golkar party

Try, Edi join breakaway Golkar party

JAKARTA (JP): Former vice president Try Sutrisno and former
defense minister Edi Sudradjat, both retired Army generals,
signed their names to a declaration on Tuesday to form a new
political party along with nearly 100 other discontented members
of Golkar.

The as-yet unnamed political party immediately announced its
intention to contest the general election scheduled for June next
year.

Hayono Isman, the former youth affairs and sports minister,
told reporters that the new party was intended to accommodate the
aspirations of Golkar members who are not happy with the policies
being pursued by the current leadership.

The name of the new party and the line up of its leadership
will be announced at the party's inauguration, which is planned
for Dec. 15.

The presence of Try and Edi, both widely respected figures in
the Armed Forces and Golkar, has lent credence to the new party.

Other signatories include Hayono himself, former environment
minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and former Golkar legislators
Bambang Warih Koesoema, Indra Bambang Utoyo, Mubha Kahar Muang
and Tatto S. Pradjamanggala.

The petition to form the new party came at the end of a two-
day seminar to discuss Golkar's chances in a multiparty political
system.

Golkar has dominated the political scene for the last 32
years, winning every election in the three-party system
handcrafted by former president Soeharto.

"We have not reached an agreement on what to call the party,
but several names have been proposed by our colleagues and
participants at the seminar," Hayono said.

Suggested names include Partai Merah Putih (the Red and White
Party), Partai Keadilan dan Persatuan (the Justice and Unity
Party) and Partai Persatuan Bangsa (the National Unity Party).

While admitting differences in vision, Hayono said the new
party would welcome current Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung, if he
wished to join. "After all, we still have a lot of similarities
in our political aspirations," he said.

Edi lost the race for the Golkar chairmanship to Akbar at the
party's extraordinary congress in July.

Hayono said he had no illusions about the party's chances in
next year's election. "Five percent (of the votes) will be fine."

"Insya Allah (God willing), we'll get more support in five to
10 years," he added.

Insiders said the new party had already established 16
regional chapters and was also counting on the support of several
discontented provincial chapters of Golkar.

Separately, Akbar, who is also the Minister/State Secretary,
played down the significance of the declaration, saying on
Tuesday that he had no right to prevent Golkar members from
leaving if they were dissatisfied with his leadership.

Akbar considered the establishment of a new party a challenge
to Golkar to further improve its performance and secure victory
at next year's election.

"Let the voters decide if they prefer this new political party
or Golkar," he said.

He dismissed speculation that the new party would poach
Golkar's traditional supporters.

Bambang Warih Koesoema, who was among those who drew up plans
for the new party, said two organizations would be established:
one a political party and the other a joint secretariat which
would function as a moral movement.

Sarwono, who served as Golkar secretary-general from 1983 to
1988, said the new political party would not incorporate the
Movement for Indonesian Justice and Unity (GKPB), of which he
also is a member.

"GKPB will remain a moral movement in its own right," he said.
(imn/prb)